Neighborhood Chatter: 10.13.11

In "Beyond the Occupation," an op-ed co-written by State Sen. Daniel Squadron and Assemblyman Rory Lancman and recently published on the Huffington Post, the two politicians outline many concrete solutions to increase accountability on Wall Street, make the income tax system more equitable and limit corporate influence on politics.

"While the energy driving these protests in cities across the country may be new, the issues are not-and there are 'shovel-ready' solutions in the form of existing bills currently before the New York State Legislature and legislatures across the country," the politicians wrote.

After a 3-year-old boy was hit by a cab at the intersection of Greenwich and Duane streets in Tribeca in late September, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer recently held a press conference with other elected officials and community members calling for the implementation of traffic light or stop sign at the spot. According to Stringer's office, there have been at least 10 injuries reported at the intersection since 2000, and the politician himself called for safety traffic measures to be undertaken in 2008.

The NYC Department of Transportation has reportedly said that gaps in traffic volume and other factors at the intersection do not meet mandatory federal guidelines for installing a stop sign or traffic light. Instead, the DOT has proposed "bulb outs," a change in signal timing and the placement of louvers in the traffic light at Chambers Street.

Council Member Margaret Chin also wrote to DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, imploring her to install a stop sign or traffic light. "The delay in improving safety conditions at this dangerous intersection is unacceptable," said Chin.

World Trade Center AMERICAN CHOPPER AT 9/11 MEMORIAL

Last week, Mayor Michael Bloomberg was joined by 9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels and Paul Teutul Jr. of the Discovery Channel's American Chopper to unveil a custom-built motorcycle commissioned by memorial board member Daniel Tichman. The bike was built by Teutel's company, Paul Jr. Designs, to commemorate the rebuilding of the WTC site. Another will be constructed and raffled off to support the memorial.

"I've built some incredible bikes to commemorate events, but few have the significance and meaning of this one," said Teutel. The bike will be featured on American Chopper on Nov. 14 and 21. Raffle tickets for the second bike can be purchased at 911memorial.org and the raffle will run through Jan. 20. Tickets are also available at the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site at 20 Vesey St. and the 9/11 Memorial Visitor Center at 90 West St.

Racing on the Hudson Over 450 people participated in the first annual Harbor School Regatta, Oct. 6. While spectators watched from Lower Manhattan, MSNBC's Willie Geist and NBC Today Show host Savannah Guthrie provided the entertainment for the event, which raised nearly $125,000 for the public school. The Harbor School, located on Governors Island, is New York City's only public school dedicated to maritime and environmental education.

Photo by Koren Reyes Photography, Courtesy of the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School